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Green Pet Tips: What To Do With Your Pet's Poop

From the ever-so-fragrant pile on the front yard to the litter box in the corner of the laundry room, the number one culprit of pet pollution is poop. How you dispose of it can make a huge impact on our environment.

The litter from American's 90 million pet cats results in about 2 millions tons of cat litter sent to landfills each year. Making the problem worse, is the fact that clay-based litters aren't biodegradable, as they are already in their final state of decomposition.

American's 73 million dogs produce around 10 million tons of dog poop per year. Dog feces left in parks, empty lots, and on the streets eventually runs off into storm drains and waterways, contaminating them with bacterial waste that can cause human and wildlife diseases.

Pet owners can put a halt to this by simply cleaning up after their dogs. You'd be surprised how many dog owners don't follow this simple rule.

Even the most conscientious dog owners might be unknowingly harming the environment by scooping up their dog's poop with a plastic bag. Think about it, degradable poop sealed inside a non-degradable bag is likely to end up sitting in the landfill forever. Not a pretty sight!

So, what is the enlightened green pet lover to do? Here are some eco-friendly options when disposing of your pet's feces.

1. Use biodegradable kitty litter made from recycled materials like paper
2. Scoop it up with biodegradable bags
3. Use an environmentally-responsible waste removal service

About the Author:

Mary Archer, RichmondPetLovers.com Editor-in-Chief Pet Lover, believes that the decisions we make about our pets have a direct impact on our planet. Visit our site for more Green Pet Tips and help reduce the carbon paw-print of your dogs and cats.